Weight Loss: It's Not Always What You Eat, But What You Don't
Eat
On a little island half way in between Guam and the Philippines
there is a rampant epidemic affecting the inhabitants. This tiny
island of approximately 8,200 people is not afflicted with
famine or a deadly disease as you might think when talking about
an epidemic... the islanders are dying at much earlier ages that
at any other time in their history. They have alarmingly high
rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Why?
Well, the people on this island used to make their living by
farming, growing bananas and coconut and lots of fishing. They
used to walk everywhere, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and had
lots of daily activity.
Now, with the introduction of "western culture" and the
destruction of their normal behavior, the islanders now drive to
their computer jobs in mostly cramped offices and eat a diet of
highly processed "prepared" foods imported from the United
States, Australia and New Zealand.
As you can see, exporting the "American diet" of quick and easy
processed food and lack of activity has taken a healthy and
active island population, and turned it into a mini version of
America, along with the associated rates of obesity and disease.
--It's What You Don't Eat
You see, when losing weight, we're not only talking about weight
loss, we're also talking about better health. It's hard to lose
weight without taking steps to increase your healthy habits...
right?
One of the most important and effective ways to lose weight and
get healthier is to avoid two groups of foods.
Both of these foods have been directly linked to deteriorating
health and specifically weight gain and obesity. The unhealthy
ingredients in these foods have steadily (and secretly) been
used in greater amounts over the last 20 years... and we haven't
known it. More importantly, we haven't known the hidden dangers
of eating them.
The first group of foods to avoid are those that contain "Trans
Fats".
Also know as TFA's or Trans Fatty Acids, they are found in
partially hydrogenated oils... manufactured and unhealthy fats.
They are a silent killer hidden in our food, and have been
directly linked to the skyrocketing rates of obesity in both
adults and children worldwide.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that
banning trans fats from all foods would save at least 30,000
lives each year in the US alone. That's 82-274 needless deaths
every day. The web site www.bantransfats.com shows an alarmingly
clear statistical increase in obesity over the last 20 years as
trans fats have become a growing part of our American diet.
The government has admitted that manufactured trans fats have no
safe level for human consumption! That's zero. There is no safe
level of consumption at all, but it's still in a large
percentage of the products we eat every day.
In American, we spend 90% of our food budget on processed foods.
The government reports that over 40% of foods found in an
average grocery store contain trans fats. Most fast foods
contain trans fats. Snacks, chips, candy bars, cookies,
crackers, commercial baked goods, pastries and cakes... almost
all processed foods contain trans fats.
In the example of the island population above, the effects of
eating processed foods and lack of activity turned a healthy
population into one with alarming rates of obesity and disease.
How can we avoid trans fats and their effects? What do we look
out for?
1) Become a label reader.
Read the ingredient labels of foods you buy and look for
"partially hydrogenated". If you see those words, avoid that
food. Any food that contains "partially hydrogenated" anything
is unhealthy and will negatively affect your weight loss program.
Some common foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils are:
-candy bars -chips -snacks -commercially baked pastries
-processed foods -most fast foods -cookies -cake mixes -cereals
Bottom line, you can't lose weight and regularly eat foods
containing partially hydrogenated oils.
2) Ask questions.
When eating out, ask if the foods you are ordering contain
"partially hydrogenated oil" or "trans fats".
3) Look for alternatives.
The good news is that because of more media exposure about the
dangers of "trans fats", companies are starting to replace
"partially hydrogenated oils" with alternative ingredients and
creating healthier versions of some of your favorite products.
Restaurants are starting to add more natural oils and are
removing partially hydrogenated oils from their kitchens. Ask
about it when eating out.
Try to get as many "whole" foods into your diet. Add more fresh
fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats and avoid
processed, prepared and fast foods as much as possible.
Avoiding these hidden oils in the food you eat every day alone
will make a significant impact on your health, and specifically
in reaching your weight loss goals. Add a few lifestyle changes
and imagine where you will be on your journey towards better
health next month.
In Part 2 of this article, I'll cover the other secret additive
in foods that no one talks about. This ingredient tricks your
brain into thinking what you are eating is delicious and makes
you want to continue to eat it, bypassing all your natural
signals of feeling full and satisfied! It's also found in a
large group of foods we eat every day.